Protecting device for curing alfalfa, grain, and the like



Patented `Fan. 13, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT -FFI'CE JAMES W. CONNOLLY,OF DUNDEE, NEW YORK PROTECTING DEVICE FOR CURING ALFALFA, GRAIN, AN DTHE LIKE Application tiled. September 12, 1929. Serial No. 392,185.

This invention relates to protecting devices for curing vegetable matterin the field.

It is the ractice at the present time to cure hay, al alfa, beans, grainand vegetable seed plants by stacking them in small piles on the ground.In a rainy season a large part o the crop may be lost because it iseither completely decayed or its uality is so impaired that its value isgreatly reduced. Even in ordinary seasons the portion of the plants thatis stacked on the gound, tends to mold and frequently the outsidesurface oi the pile that is exposed to the sun becomes-bleached whichrenders it of less value. In the past, an attempt has been made toovercome this diiculty by placing a sheet of canvas over each pile ofhay or the like resting on the ground and fastening` the corners to theground. This method has not been satisfactory because the hay or grainstill rests on the ground and in the case ,of heavy rains the portion onthe ground becomes wet and therefore deteriorates. In .this method it isalso necessary to remove the canvas to permit the hay or grain to cureor dry.

vIn accordance with the present invention a devicefor curing grain orthe like has been desi ned to overcome the disadvantages outlined above.VThe main feature of the invention includes a device for accomplishingthis result which supports the grain or the like above the ground andcompletely covers it with material that sheds water and yet permits itto dry -or cure without removing any part of the device. A furtherfeature of the invention relates toa device of this character which isinexpensive to manufacture and which is composed of sep* arable elementswhich can be readily nested 4for transportation and storage.

For a clearer understanding of the invention reference is made to thedrawings in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the protecting deviceor' the present invention while Fig. 2 is adiagrammatic showing of a topview of the base alone with the supporting rods in place.

In Fi 1 there is re resented a base 5 made o wire mesh in t e formof atruncated cone having a series of rods such as 6 passing through themesh of the base and fastened thereto to form a ventilated support forthe material which is to be cured in the protecting device. In orderthat the device'may be held firmly in place against severe Winds aseries of pins l5 ymay be passed through the mesh to extend below thelower edge of the base' and be forced into the ground. A detachablecover 7, open at 30 its top and bottom, is made of metal Aframeworkcomprising the inclined wires 8 connecting the top and bottom rings 9and l() the inclined sides of which framework are covered with aWaterproof and vermin- Q proof material similar to burlap which willpermit a certain amount of air to pass out through it and yet shedwater. This portion of the protecting device is in the form of atruncated cone the lower part of which telescopes over a portion of thebase 5. The open top of cover 7 is closed by disk 11 which may or maynot have ears 12 engaging the interior of the cover. In order to holdthe disk l1 in place a strap or other suitable means' fastens it to thecover.

In using the devices a plurality of them are set up in the field eachone of lthem arranged as shown in Fig. l. The top 11 is removed andthe'device is filled with the alfalfa, hay, beans or other seed plant tobe cured. The cover 11 is then iixed in place and the material protectedin this way can safely remain in the field for an indefinite se erioduntil it is desired to remove it to a arn or warehouse. When it `isdesired to store the devices', the vcover portion 'i is removed andother similar portions are nested together. The base 5 is similarlyremoved gg and other like pieces are nested together so that the devicemay be transported and stored in a minimum amount of space.

What I claim is: y

1. In a device of the class described a ven- 95 tilated base providedwith a horizontal support, a cover engagingsaid base having a frame withinclined sides and covered with material which is substantiallywater-proof:l but which permits the passage of air therewe through, anda water-proof top for said cover.

2. In a device of the class described a ventilated base provided withhorizontal supports, said base being tapered so that it can be nestedwith other similar bases, a cover engaging said base comprising a framehaving tapered sides covered with a Water-proof material, and aremovable top for said cover, said cover being disk-shaped so that itcan nest with other similarvparts.

3. In a device of the class described, a base made of Wire mesh in theform of a truncated cone, horizontal rods attached to said Wire mesh toform a support, a cover engaging said base but removable therefrom, saidcover being made of a Wire frame having inclined sides and covered withWaterproof cloth, and a removable top for said cover. l In witnesswhereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 11th-day of' September A. D.

JAMES YW. ooNNoLLY.

